The Knot-a-Collection: A Sustainability Journey
At Ruffwear, our journey of accountability is deeply woven into our purpose. Holding ourselves responsible for the impact our work has on the planet is rooted in our ‘why’ of unleashing possibility for dogs and their humans. Embedding this in our culture helps us make decisions that minimize our negative impacts and maximize the good we can bring to humans, their dogs, and the environment they play in.
As part of this innovation and sustainability journey, we’d like to spotlight the Knot-A-Collection, our series of climbing rope dog leashes and collars.
Behind the Scenes of the Knot-A-Collection
Inspired by the rugged durability and innovation of climbing gear, the Knot-A-Collection uses strong, supple reflective kernmantle rock climbing rope, secure locking carabiners, and solid aluminum hardware to create the safest, most reliable gear for dogs and their humans. Since 2018, the rope core in all of these products is made with repurposed remaining yarns — yarns that might otherwise end up as manufacturing waste.
The amount of remaining yarns used in these products between 2018 and 2023 equates to:
- 910 miles – the driving distance between Bend, Oregon (where our headquarters is located) to Palm Springs, California
- The weight of 16 elephants
- The amount of carbon sequestered by 275 acres of U.S. forest per year
- 231 tCO2e GHG emissions avoided through the use of these yarns
*from EPA equivalencies calculator
That’s a lot of yarn! Using this yarn in our products not only reduces impacts from disposal and recycling, but also from material production. And if that’s not cool enough, learn how these products can level up outdoor adventures with your canine companion.
The Knot-a-Leash™
The Knot-a-Leash™ is a leash that draws inspiration from rock climbing for a robust, reliable link with your pup. Crafted with flexible, reflective kernmantle rope, a comfortable tubular webbing handle, and a secure locking carabiner, it's the perfect blend of adventure and everyday functionality.
The Knot-a-Long™
The Knot-a-Long™ is a thoughtfully designed short dog leash with a classic climbing aesthetic. Perfect for keeping your pup nearby or walking two dogs with our Double Track™ Coupler, this short leash features reflective kernmantle rope and a secure locking carabiner. The convenient accessory loop lets you carry all your canine essentials like pick-up bags or small clip-on items.
The Knot-a-Collar™
With a clean design and durable construction, the Knot-a-Collar™ is an elegant collar option, whether your pup is embarking on adventure or just in need of an everyday ID collar. Its low profile settles comfortably into short or long fur, and the sliding fisherman's knots make it easy to adjust for optimal fit. Stay securely connected with the aluminum V-ring and enjoy all of Ruffwear’s signature collar features: a separate ID tag attachment point, a silicone tag silencer, and a convenient Quick Ring™ so you can easily add and remove tags.
The Just-a-Cinch™ Leash
The Just-a-Cinch™ Leash is a versatile leash and collar combo designed with rugged durability and everyday convenience in mind. Featuring a unique end loop that doubles as a collar, simply adjust the fit with the silicone bumpers for a secure hold. Crafted from strong, reflective kernmantle rope and a soft tubular webbing handle, it's perfect for quick outings or keeping in your car for spontaneous outdoor pursuits. Loved by shelter workers for its seamless functionality, this slip lead eliminates the hassle of clipping onto a separate collar, making it ideal for dogs prone to slipping out.
The Hitch Hiker™ Leash
A versatile climbing-inspired leash and hitching system, the Hitch Hiker™ adapts to whatever you and your dog get into. With its adjustable strap, it seamlessly transitions from a hand-held leash to a hands-free waist belt or a secure hitch around a tree or post. Thanks to the ergonomic HitchLock™ rope adjuster and 12-foot rope, you can easily switch between long lines and short leads with a simple adjustment. Complete with a durable stow bag for easy portability, the Hitch Hiker™ is the perfect companion for any outing. Just like a trusted climbing belay partner, a bit of human involvement is needed to adjust slack, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for you and your dog.
The Knot-a-Hitch™
The Knot-a-Hitch™ is a clever dog-hitching system perfect for campsite hangs. Designed with car camping in mind, it offers a safe and secure way for your pup to roam around camp while staying leashed. Simply set up the strong, kernmantle rope between two trees or attach it to a single post using our user-friendly hardware and tensioning system (learn more about how to set up the Knot-a-Hitch™). Now your canine companion can enjoy the great outdoors while you handle camp chores like pitching the tent, cooking up a feast, or gathering around the fire.
Other Ruffwear products that include rope core made with remaining yarns include the Gourdo™ Rubber Throw Toy, Huck-a-Cone™, Pacific Ring™ Toy, Pacific Loop™ Toy, and Lunker™ Floating Throw Toy. Whether it’s a leash, collar, or toy, we know that there’s always more work to do and our purpose will help guide us. We’re grateful for our community of dogs and humans getting out there and we look forward to continuing to unleash possibility through this important work.
